Putin, Orban meet in Moscow to discuss Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who is visiting Hungary, began talks in the Kremlin on Friday on the war in Ukraine.

In the televised interviews, Putin said he wanted to use the opportunity to “discuss the nuances that have developed” over the war in Ukraine with Orban, who visited Kiev earlier this week.

Earlier, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz promised that the European Union’s support for Ukraine would not waver despite Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s controversial trip to Moscow on Friday.

Orban is not representing the EU on this visit, Scholz said, stressing that the bloc’s clear message is that “Ukraine can count on our solidarity, (Russian President Vladimir) Putin cannot count on our solidarity and declining support.”

Hungarian President Orban arrived in Moscow on Friday for talks with Putin, a trip the EU says threatens to undermine the bloc’s position on the war in Ukraine.

Orban, the EU’s most Kremlin-friendly leader, wrote on X that “the peace mission continues. Second stop: Moscow,” days after his visit to kyiv.

European Union leaders have criticized Orban, whose country took over the bloc’s rotating presidency this week, for visiting a leader wanted for war crimes.

“Appeasement will not stop Putin,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wrote on X.

“Only unity and determination will pave the way for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine.”

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in a statement that Orban’s “visit to Moscow takes place, exclusively, in the framework of bilateral relations between Hungary and Russia.”

“Prime Minister Orban has not received any mandate from the EU Council to travel to Moscow.”

The 27-nation EU has strongly opposed Russia’s war on Ukraine, imposing an unprecedented 14 rounds of sanctions on Moscow over the invasion.

“This position excludes official contacts between the EU and President Putin. The Hungarian Prime Minister therefore does not represent the EU in any form,” Borrell said.

“It is worth recalling that President Putin has been indicted by the International Criminal Court and an arrest warrant has been issued for his role in the forced deportation of children from Ukraine to Russia.”

EU Council President Charles Michel had earlier reiterated the common position that “no discussion on Ukraine can take place without Ukraine.”

– “Disturbing news” –

Hungary’s six-month EU presidency gives the central European country decision-making power over the bloc’s agenda and priorities for the next six months.

Orban’s visit to Moscow comes days after the right-wing nationalist made a surprise trip to kyiv, where he urged Ukrainian leaders to work toward a swift ceasefire with Russia.

The Hungarian leader insisted on Friday that peace cannot be achieved without dialogue.

“If we sit in Brussels, we will not be able to get closer to peace. We have to act,” Orban said in his regular interview with Hungarian state radio, when asked about his Tuesday visit to Ukraine.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk expressed disbelief at Orban’s planned trip to Moscow, while Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo called it “worrying news.”

This is the first visit to Moscow by a European leader since Chancellor Karl Nehammer in April 2022.

Orban and Putin last met in October 2023 in Beijing, where they discussed energy cooperation.